Studio Talk

Tax season is such a stressful time of year. Just thinking about the minefield of tax jargon, GST, deductibles and capital asset depreciation makes me want to reach for the Advil. I was lucky to sit in on a recent Revenue Canada Tax Session, hosted by the EAC, making this tax season seem a little less scary. Here are some tips that I found most useful.

...is a common question among artists. Although considered subjective, retail values are mostly a matter of trust. Buyers and collectors should feel confident their purchase commands a realistic price, no matter where or from whom they procure the piece.

Professionals, non-professionals, serious amateurs, and even not so serious amateurs must all keep a professional quality portfolio. Your portfolio is a permanent record of your work, your educational experience, where you sell your work, and insight into your creative process. It is an organized collection of high-quality images (digital, photos and/or slides) of your work, your resume or Curriculum Vitae (C.V.), your artist statement, your artist biography, an artist portrait, any press clippings/writings about you and your work, invitations to craft exhibitions you have participated in, along with your post cards, business cards, etc.

Professionally photographed slides and digital images are most effective in getting your work published in the Alberta Craft Magazine as well as other print material. Good images also increase your chances of being accepted in exhibitions, awards, galleries, shops, ect.

While it can seem like a chore, having a well taken artist’s portrait on hand is as important as an artist statement. Galleries may need your photo for a myriad of reasons and they often need them on a moments notice. Instead of scrambling at the last minute to try and find someone to take your photo or looking through stacks of candid pictures. Plan ahead and contact a local photographer for their portraiture rates or set aside a few hours with a friend.

Take a tour of some excellent ACC member studio photos taken by graduating students of the NAIT Photographic Technology Course. Visit the online gallery here.

We recommend that when you pack for shipping you should feel comfortable with the box being tossed, thrown or dropped. Not that it happens all the time but you should be prepared for your work to be handled by those who don’t realize what they have been entrusted with.